#Warning: 6 Ways Your Phone Is Ruining Your Skin!

We’re all guilty of being permanently attached to our smartphones. With WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter – can you really blame us? We can’t really imagine our lives without our fave gadget, but all those selfies, late night phone calls and tapping away on our screens can be causing more damage then you could have imagined. We tell you a few ways your phone is ruining your skin - from annoying acne to those wrinkles, you can, actually, blame it on your phone! But don’t freak out, we’re not asking you to toss away your cellphone. Instead we give you a few skin-saving solutions!

1. Crow’s Feet and Fine Lines

What Happens: Constantly staring into bright screens and trying to read small fonts can cause your eyes to squint. Just think about the amount of time you spend staring at your phone all day. Obviously crow’s feet and fine lines around your eyes shouldn’t seem so surprising then!

Save Your Skin: Lower the brightness of your screen and also increase the size of your font to stop you from squinting. You can also start using a good eye cream like L’Oreal Youth Code Eye Cream as an added precaution.

2. Dark Spots

What Happens: You know how your phone gets heated sometimes and can make your cheek feel really hot after a long conversation? Well, all that heat can mess with the melanin in your skin, much like the sun's rays, which can lead to discolouring and dark spots.

Save Your Skin: Don’t keep your phone pressed against your skin for long periods of time. If you’re settling in for a marathon chat session, then it’s best to hit the speakerphone option or plug in your headphones. Also, make it a point not to speak on your phone while it charges, as that can also cause it to heat up.

3. Turkey Neck

What Happens: No matter what posture you are in - sitting, standing or lying down - you’re constantly gazing down at your screen. All that staring downwards is causing the collagen in your neck to loosen, which will only result in a wrinkled turkey neck. Yes, we’re just as scared as you now!

Save Your Skin: Take care of your neck by using a cream specifically meant for the area below your chin, like Olay Regenerist Night Firming Cream. Or you could always try to hold up your phone at eye level!

4. Annoying Acne

What Happens: You may feel like you’re too old for acne, but that doesn’t stop those pesky zits from showing up or your cheeks every now and then. Your phone is a breeding ground for bacteria thanks to all the dirt and germs you transfer from your fingers, and all the makeup, oil and sweat from your face that lands up on your screen.

Save Your Skin: Make sure to keep your face clean and exfoliate it regularly to get rid of excess oil. Also, make it a point to wipe your phone down, especially the screen, with anything from a wet wipe to a special screen cleaner. It’s also a good idea to make use of your earphone headset and speakerphone option so you don’t need to bring it in contact with your face.

5. Under-Eye Bags and Circles

What Happens: If you’re one of those (like us) who can’t do without their cellphone and needs to have it on them at all times, even while you sleep, then this could be a problem for you. Keeping your phone next to you all night could make it harder to fall asleep as well as affect the quality of your REM sleep thanks to LED lights or the blue glow emanating from your phone. As well, the vibrations and pings through the night every time you get a new message or notification can disturb your sleep. Puffy eyes and dark circles could be a direct result of this.

6. Skin Allergies and Rashes

What Happens: Thanks to the metallic sheen of most cellphones, made from nickel or chromium, it’s not uncommon to break out into allergies and rashes. Contact with the metallic casing can cause a reaction resulting in irritation, redness and allergies, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Save Your Skin: If you’re one who is constantly chattering on your phone, then you should cover your screen with a clear protector. You may also want to invest in a plastic cover to protect your hands and fingers from rashes and irritation.